Hopkinton: Developer proposes age-restricted housing at Legacy Farms

Tuesday

Apr 8, 2014 at 12:01 AM

By Jonathan PhelpsDaily News Staff

HOPKINTON – The developers of Legacy Farms are hoping to revise the plans on the north side of the mixed-use development off Rte. 135 to reduce commercial space and add 200 age-restricted homes.The south side of the development off East Main Street across from Weston Nurseries is under construction. The area includes an apartment building, condominiums and single-family homes.Construction of the north side hasn’t started, but Legacy Farms North Road will connect Rt. 85 to Rt. 135, according to plans.The change to the north side of the major development is expected to bring in more tax revenue and reduce traffic over previously proposed plans, according to Roy MacDowell, manager of Legacy Farms. With the proposed housing restricted to people 55 years old and over, there would be no additional burden to the school system, he said.The changes to the Open Space Mixed-use Development in town will require a two-thirds vote at Town Meeting on May 5 to be approved.Board of Selectmen, Planning Board and Zoning Advisory Committee members have looked at the plans and several concerns were raised over the host community agreement, aesthetics and the density of the proposed changes.MacDowell said the company originally sought 280 active adult/ age-restricted units under the new plan, but reduced the number to 200 after several meetings with the Planning Board and ZAC.Ken Weismantel, chairman of the Planning Board, said the new proposal will make the property about 25 percent more dense. The board has not taken a position, but will do so before Town Meeting, he said.The north side originally called for 50 single-family homes, 650 townhomes, 240 rental units and 450,000 square feet of commercial space.The revised plan reduces the commercial space to 250,000 square feet and adds the 200 new age-restricted homes, according to the Legacy Farms project team. About 20 homes will be designated as affordable, MacDowell said. There will still be retail and other commercial uses on East Main Street and an area known as the village center."The core of the project is remaining the same," he told selectmen last week during a presentation on the changes. He said 500 acres of open space and walking trails will remain."There is a tremendous built-up demand for this product," MacDowell said in a telephone interview about age-restricted housing in town. "This kind of use is far better for the neighborhood and for the town, not only from the traffic point of view, but economic as well."He said the additional housing units will bring in $1.3 million in taxes - considerably more than the $160,000 expected from the commercial development.Selectman Benjamin Palleiko expressed concerns about the density and changes to the host community agreement. "It was a lengthy process with an enormous amount of input from the town," he said.He also expressed concerns about the age-restricted units not selling.MacDowell argued that there is a demand, especially with the amenities the development will offer.Selectman Michelle Gates supported the changes, saying the board needs to be flexible because of the economic decline the developers have faced since starting the project. It will be good to keep the commercial districts and traffic on the west end of town next to I-495, she said."This might not be 100 percent what we’d like, but I think the dollars make sense," she said. "I am satisfied with the documents I’ve seen so far"On the south side of the development there are 515 apartments, condominiums and single-family homes proposed. So far, eight apartment buildings and about 70 homes are complete, MacDowell said."Sales are going very well," he said.If the new plan for the north side is approved at Town Meeting, he said the road could be built sometime this year.Jonathan Phelps can be reached at jphelps@wickedlocal.com.